February 7th, 2003
Super Fun!
The Ninco Super Kart
When it comes to the term
"Fun-Factor", slot car racing is at the top of my
list. However, some models are just outright more fun than others. Ninco has
always been a company that consistently provided us with a high level of
quality, along with some of the most fun we have had in this hobby. When Ninco
released these Super Karts, I thought to myself that we were going to discover
yet one more level of fun...I was right! This model is far from a new release,
differing only slightly from the initial models. However I had not taken the
time to give these Karts a closer look when they first appeared. I felt that I
should, seeing as they are a fun model, and that some of you just getting
started in the hobby might want to know about them.
When it first arrived, it was quickly taken out of my hands by my teen-agers. They were amazed at this little machine and couldn't wait to start testing it. Their fascination of karts just added fuel to the flame so to speak, and I hoped it ran as well as it looked. The body and chassis are molded in color, and the markings Ninco produced were excellent, with a nice, dust-free clear coat sealing all of them in place. Our driver looked comfortable in his small space, and with his arms adjustable, you can have him gripping the steering wheel almost perfectly. The colors of the helmet seem a little out of place compared to the livery of the model, and if this begins to bother me I can always paint it.
The rest of the model as you can see is in a league of its own. The chassis seems to look fragile, however is very flexible and has survived some hard tumbles so far with no damage. The level of detail seems on par with most Ninco models, as a balance of form and function come into place. Items like the brake rotor, exhaust and functional steering all seem to add to the overall visual appearance. Underneath, you see 2 small post magnets set in mid-chassis, the guide, and the 2 screws that hold the driver and front steering wheel assembly in place. Removing these screws allow you to have access to the small motor (NK-1) included on this model.
Mounted in an angle-winder configuration, this little motor allows more than adequate power for this small model. Gear mesh was very smooth and quiet, with almost no side-to-side axle free-play. The wheels are nicely done, being as round as you could expect. The front wheels simply snap in place over the stub axles and spin smoothly with no binding. As mentioned, the model has operating steering, and is quite durable. It does add to visual appeal of the model, at least it does for my eyes. The rear wheels mount to the axle more conventionally, and brass bushings fit snugly in the chassis.
The tires, although soft enough to provide decent grip did have some problems. First, they needed some "hand-tuning" to get them seated as true as possible on the wheel. I do this simply by taking the tires and pushing on them from the sides all the way around, then I perform this again while pressing on the tops. Even after this effort, the tires still have some crown to them in the center, causing only minimal tire contact with the track. A good amount of sanding cured this problem for the most part and performance greatly improved.
Speaking of performance, did I mention these little models are a hoot to drive? One will definitely get plenty of sliding action from them, and hopefully you have your track borders installed! I allowed my oldest son to have the honors, and the smiles and laughter seemed to indicate he was having FUN. When I had my turn, I imitated my son quite well. Tossing this car through the turns is very addictive, but it isn't just the driving that is so much fun. The way this model looks while it sits on the track, and while it is sliding through the corners is a sight for sure!
In the end, this model reminded me of how much
fun this hobby truly can be. As I finish this article, I hear more laughs coming
from the basement as friends of my son are breaking it in (as my son says?).
Ninco has produced yet another definite winner, and I expect my collection to
grow suddenly as a result of today's "Happy Hour". I highly suggest ordering a
pair of these as soon as the slot-budget allows. It adds not only variety to
your line-up, it provides an upgrade to the term FUN FACTOR!
For some great 1:1 Prototype Information CLICK HERE!
Harry
Big thanks
go to Fantasy World for providing us with this fun model. They have plenty of
these models in stock, so drop by their website, or give them a call today.
Super
Kart, Bridgestone (Item # NIN50286NEW)
Super Kart, Bridgestone
Click here for Product Listing
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